Anarita

Anarita in Cyprus is a village in the province of Paphos, situated 16 kilometers southeast of the homonymous city, 58 kilometers northwest of Limassol and 140 kilometers southwest of Nicosia. Built at an altitude of 105 meters and offering splendid views of the southwestern beaches of the island, the small settlement of Anarita is situated on the chalk formations of Pachna and is famous for the anari cheese produced in the area.

Historically, the village has existed since the Frankish era and was included in the list of medieval feuds in Cyprus. Together with other villages, it was granted in 1468 by James II of the Lusignan dynasty to the knight Jerome Salviati, and was later referred to as one of the feuds of the royal property of the Kouklia. During the Ottoman domination, Anarita emerged as a major agricultural and, especially, livestock farming village with unique dairy products. As far as modern history is concerned, the mixed village in which Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots lived, was confronted with the consequences of the intercommunal riots of the 1960s, with the former finally leaving in 1963-1964.

The name of the community is probably related to the existence of the monastery of Agios Onisiforos, some ruins of which are still visible near its church, while other sources associate the name with the anari, the Cypriot type of cheese produced locally. Another version speaks of Anavryta, which, over the years, became Anarita, because water was flowing (anavlizo in Greek means flowing) from everywhere. Finally, there is the version referring to the fact that the name of the village came from Enoritis (parishioner in Greek). The Byzantine word parish means ecclesiastical region, while during the Frankish rule it acquired administrative significance, it was called anoria and, as a natural consequence, the enorita became Anarita.

Today the community, apart from the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds it, has a lot to offer to its visitor. There are restaurants, taverns, a coffee shop and a cafe in the area, and for those who choose to stay, there are comfortable rooms to rent. The Asprokremmos dam, located on the eastern side of the community, is the second largest dam of the island and was built in the 1980s as part of the large irrigation project in Paphos for the utilization of the water resources of the Paphos province, providing water across the coastal plain from Hapotami to Agios Georgios Pegeias. There is also a primary school and kindergarten in the area for the children of the community. The beautiful excursion area to the north of the village in the "Kaparovounos" location was created in 2003 by the Reforestation Department in collaboration with the community council and is ideal for relaxing among the mulberry trees, carob and olive trees or for a picnic as the necessary infrastructure is provided, with wooden benches and tables, barbecue, drinking water from a stone fountain and a sanitary space.

The Botanical Park “Elioudia” hosts many species of plants and trees and in which the visitor can choose a variety of activities. This huge park houses a traditional museum, a farm, a restaurant and a bar, as well as a children’s playground, soccer fields and a swimming pool for children. The main church in Anarita, a 19th-century Byzantine stone-built building, is dedicated to Agia
Marina and is located in the center of the community, while at the southern entrance of the village there is the chapel of Agios Onisiforos and next to it the cave which is no longer accessible as it has been “sealed” by an olive tree. Part of the relics of Agios Onisiforos are preserved in the church of Agia Marina, others at the Monastery of Kykkos and the Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery. The small chapel of Agios Epifaneios is located to the east and just outside of the settlement. The Heroes Monument is dedicated to the fallen heroes of the community who gave their lives for freedom in the struggle against the English in 1955-59 and the 1963-64 inter-communal riots, Labrianos Christofi, Andreas Georgiou, Andreas Loukas, Georgios Stokkos and Rodosthenis Alexandros.